Mattress-machine.



PATENTED APR. '7, 1903.

E. G. WHEELER.

MATTRESS MACHINE.

APPLIOATiON FILED AUG. 8. 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

NO MODEL.

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PATENTED APR, 7, 1903.

E. G WHEELER.

MATTRESS MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 8. 1902.

N0 MODEL.

THE N Gflms PETERS CD" PNOTOQLITHQ. WASHINGTON D. C

UNrTED ATFNT rrrcn.

EDWARD G. WHEELER, OF MOBILE, ALABAMA.

MATTRESS MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 724,978, dated April'7', 1903.

Application filed August 8, 1902. Serial No. 118,964. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD G. WHEELER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mobile, in the county of Mobile and State of Alabama, haveinvented a certain new'and useful lmprovementwin Mattress-Machines, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to machines for compressing material forming thebody of mattresses and for thrusting or stuffing such material in thecompressed condition into a previously-prepared mattress-tick.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, practical,inexpensive, and effective machine of this class.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an end elevation of amattress-machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-section takenon line 2 2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view of the floor of the machine.Fig. 4 is a plan of the movable holder for the material, and Fig. 5 is across-section showing the floor and holder. In all of these drawings theside boards and end boards forming the box for holding the material areremoved for convenience of showing the working parts of the machine.

The machine which I have shown in the drawings to illustrate myinvention is pro vided with a supporting-frame A of any suitable formand construction. This frame A is provided with a floor 1, made offlooring or other suitable material and having open spaces 2 2 2, inwhich are arranged sets of rollers 3 3 3, loosely mounted onsuitablyjournaled transverse shafts 3 3. The floor 1 is provided with aseries of slats 14 14, Fig. 5, secured to it between the rollers 3 Thetops of the rollers 3 3 are slightly above the upper surface of thefloor 1, but below the upper surfaces of slats 14 14. The frame A alsosupports a set of swinging rods or beams 4 4 4, which are pivotallyconnected between their ends to upper bars 5 of the frame A. The bars 55 are desirably made vertically adjustable by means of corrugated plates5 5, Fig. 1. These plates are made in pairs. One of each pair isfastened securely to the bar 5, the other to the upright post of frameA.

Through the center of each pair is a longitudinal slot through which abolt passes for rigidly uniting the whole together. These swinging rods4 4 4 are connected at their upper ends by cross-r0ds 6 and at theirlower ends by cross-rods 7, the whole thus constitut-ing a swingingframe. The lower ends of the rods 4 4 are provided withcompressionrollers 8 8 8, which may be of any suitable or desiredconstruction, and the upper ends of the rods 4 4 are provided withweight-boxes 9 9 9, which are adapted to hold weights of any varietycapable of slightly overbalancing the rollers 8 8. Thus the rods orbeams 4 4 and the cross-pieces 6 and 7form a swinging counterbalancedcompression-roller frame B. The frame is adapted to be swung about thepivotal connections of the rods 4 4, so that the rollers 8 8 can beelevated to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 or loweredto the position shown in the full lines in said figure. By having thecounterbalancingweights adapted to slightly more than counterbalance therollers 8 8 the frame is normally held in a position with the rollerselevated.

As an arrangement for swinging the swinging frame B, I convenientlyprovide a chain 10, having one of its ends connected with the forwardend of the lower cross-rod 7 and its other end attached to a Windlass11. The frame-piece 5 is provided with a depending hook 12, adapted toengage the chain 10, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2, and the forwardupright of the frameAis provided with ablock or sheave 13, below whichthe chain can be passed, as shown in full lines in said figure. At thefront end of the machine is a long transverse roller 30, whose upperedge is substantially in alinement with the tops of the rollers 3 3.Below the Windlass 11 is arranged a second Windlass 31, which is locatedshown comprises top slats 15 15 15, webbing belts 16 16 between thesame, bottom. slats following block.

15 15, and a following block 17, to which all of the foregoing areattached. The forward ends of the webbing belts 16 16 are provided withhooks 16 16, adapted to engage the hooks 32 32 on the Windlass 31. Thebottom slats 15 15 are arranged above the rollers 3 3 and between thefloor-slats 14 14, so as to roll upon the former and slide between thelatter. The following block 17 is of such height as to permit it to passbelow the compression-rollers S 8 when the latter are in their lowermostpositions and when the top and bottom slats are attached to the The topof the following block is provided with a groove 18, and the top slats15 15 are provided with downwardlyprojecting flanges or loops 19 19,adapted to fit into the groove 18. A locking bar or rod 20 is arrangedover the rear ends of the slats 15 15 and webbing belts 16 16 to lockthe same in position close against the following block 17. Thelocking-bar 20 is arranged so that it can be locked and unlocked, aconvenient arrangement being to connect one of its ends pivotally to thefollowing block, as at 21, and to provide a catch 22 for engaging itsother end. A coil-spring roller 23 is mounted in the rear of thefollowing block 17 and connected thereto by a rope 24, this roller beingadapted to draw the materialholder 0 backwardly to the positionindicated in Fig. 2.

In front of the frame A is a table D for receiving the mattress materialfrom the machine. This table D is conveniently provided with a roller 25and an inclined plane 26, leading to the same. The roller 25 shown isunderstood to be one of several rollers with which the table B isdesirably provided, a portion of the table being broken away forconvenience of illustration. The table is also provided with a side bar27, having a vertically-arranged roller 28 for holding the tick.

The machine is operated as follows: When the machine is out of use, theswinging frame 13 is in the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig.2, being placed in this position by reason of the Weights 9 9 being morethan necessary to counterbalance the compressionrollers 8 8. In order tohave the chain 10 out of the way of the operator, it is placed inengagement with the depending hook 12. The material for the mattress isplaced upon the bottom slats 15 15 being held in position by the sideand end boards, which, it is understood,are not present in the drawings.When sufficient material has been placed in position for compression,the top slats 15 15 and the webbing belts 16 16 are placed in positionupon the material. Then the chain 10 is disengaged from the hook 12, andthe Windlass 11 operated to cause the frame B to be swung the sheave 13.A few more turns of the windlass 11 are then made to draw therollerframe forwardly to its upright position, where it is securelyheld. The top slats 15 15 and webbing belts 16 16 are then securelylocked to the follower 17, the front and rear end boards removed, andthe hooks l6 16 at the forward end of the webbing belts 16 16 placed inengagement with the staples 32 on the Windlass 31. turned, so as to windthe webbing belts upon it, and thereby advance the material-holder O.This moves out upon the receiving-table B and into a previously-preparedtick, which is suitably arranged in position on said table, as wellknown in the art. The slats 1515 15 15, webbing belts 16 16, andfollowing block 17 are then returned to position in the machine by thespring-roller 23, leaving the material in the tick,'the smoothness ofthe slats and slight adherence between the mattress and the tickpermitting the withdrawal of the slats without withdrawing the material.To make mattresses of different thicknesses, the rollers 8 8 areadjusted vertically as desired by vertically adjusting the side bars 55.

It will be seen that the machine is simple, inexpensive, and practicaland that it ac complishes the desired result in an easy and effectivemanner.

It will be understood that I do not desire to limit myself to thespecific construction herein shown and described, forit is obvious thatchanges, modifications, and alterations may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is 1. A device of the class specified, comprising a floorprovided with rollers, a holder for the material adapted to move uponsaid roll- The Windlass 31 is thereupon ers, and a swinging frame havingits lower end provided with rollers adapted to travel upon the top ofsaid material-holder, whereby the swinging of the frame will lower therollers and cause the compression of the material in the holder,substantially as described.

2. A machine of the class specified, comprising a floor provided withrollers, a holder for the material adapted to rest and travel upon saidrollers, a swinging frame arranged above the material-holder and havingits lower end provided with a set of rollers adapted to travel upon thetop of the material-holder, said frame being adapted to produce aparallel motion of said rollers so that the same move correspondinglydownwardly and along the top of the holder and thereby produce an evencompression of the material in the latter, substantially as described.

3. A machine of the class specified,comprising a platform provided withrollers, a holder for the material adapted to rest and move upon saidrollers, a swinging frame arranged above said platform, said framecomprising a set of pivotally-supported rods or beams having theirlowerends provided with rollers,

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and cross-rods pivotally connected with said rods or beams, saidswinging frame being ar ranged so that the pivotally-supported rods orbeams can be swung to cause a downward movement of the rollers upon andalong the top of the material-holder, substantially as described.

4. A machine of the class specified,comprising a floor provided withrollers, a materialholder adapted to rest and move upon said rollers, aswinging frame comprising a set of pivotaliy-supported rods or beams 4,4, having their lower ends provided with rollers 8, 8, and their upperends provided with weights 9, 9, and cross-rods 6 and 7 connecting saidrods 4, 4, the said swinging frame being arranged so that a swingingmovement of the rods 4, 4, into vertical position causes the rollers todepress the top of the materialholder and thereby compress the materialtherein, substantially as described.

5. Amachineof theclass specified,comprising a floor provided withrollers, a holder for the material adapted to rest and travel upon saidrollers, a swinging frame arranged above the material-holder andhavingits lower end provided with a set of rollers adapted to travelupon the top of the material-holder, said frame being adapted toproducea parallel motion of said rollers so that the same move correspondinglydownwardly and along the top of the holder and thereby produce an evencompression of the material in the latter, and means for swinging saidframe, substantially as described.

6. A machine of the class specified, com prising a floor provided withrollers, a materialholder adapted to rest and move upon said rollers, aswinging frame comprising a set of pivotally-supported rods or beams 4,4, having their lower ends provided with rollers, 8, 8, and their upperends provided with weights 9, 9, and cross-rods 6 and 7 connecting saidrods 4, 4, the said swinging frame being arranged so that a swingingmovement of the rods 4, 4, into Vertical position causes the rollers todepress the top of the materialholder and thereby compress the materialtherein, and means for swinging said frame, substantially as described.

7. A device of the class specified, comprising a floor provided withrollers, a holder for the material adapted to move upon said rollers, aswinging frame having its lower end provided with rollers adapted totravel upon the top of said material-holder, whereby the swinging of theframe will lower the rollers and cause the compression of the materialin the holder, and means for swinging said frame, comprising a chainattached thereto and a Windlass for winding up the chain, substantiallyas described.

8. A machine of the class specified, comprising a floor provided withrollers, a materialholder adapted to rest and move upon said rollers, aswinging frame comprising a set of pivotally-supported rods or beams 4,4, having their lower ends provided with rollers 8, 8, and theirupperends provided with Weights 9, 9, and cross-rods 6 and 7 connectingsaid rods 4, 4, the said swinging frame being arranged so that aswinging movement of the rods 4, 4, into verticalposition causes therollers to depress the top of the material holder and thereby compressthe material therein, a chain 10 attached to the front end of the lowercross-piece 7, a Windlass 11 for winding up said chain, and a sheave 13about which the chain can be placed to permit the lower end of theswinging frame to be drawn directly forward, substantially as described.

9. In a machine of the class specified, a swinging frame comprisinga setof pivotallysupported bars or rods, means for connecting the same,rollers at the lower ends of said bars or rods, and weights at the upperends I thereof, substantially as described.

10. In a machine of the class specified, the combination of a swingingframe having its lower end provided with a series of compressiondevices, said frame being adapted to cause a parallel movement of suchdevices, in combination with a holder for the material to be compressed,said holder being arranged to be acted upon by said compression devices,substantially as described.

11. In a machine of the class specified, the combination of a swingingframe, comprising a set of pivotally-supported rods or bars 4, 4, havingtheir lower ends provided with rollers and their upper ends providedwith weights, connections 6 and 7 between said bars; 4, 4, and a chain10 for swinging said frame, substantially as described.

12. In a device of the class specified,aswinging frame comprising a setof connected pivotally-supported rods or bars 4, 4, having their lowerends provided with rollers 8, 8, and their upper ends with weights 9, 9,and means for swinging said frame, comprising a chain 10, a Windlass 11,and a sheave 13, substantially as described.

13. In a machine of the class specified, the combination of a floorhaving a set of sectional rollers, and a holder for the material havinga floor consisting of portions whose lower surfaces are at differentlevels, the lower portions being arranged to fit between the sectionalparts of the rollers and the upper portions being adapted to roll uponthe same, substantially as described.

14. In a machine of the class specified, a holder for the material,comprising a floor composed of strips arranged at difierent levels, eachalternate strip being below the intermediate ones, a following blocksecured to said floor, and a top consisting of a series of slats andwebbing belts, whereof the slats have their rear ends provided withflanges adapted to fit into a groove formed in the following block, incombination with means for locking the rear ends of said slats inposition, substantially as described.

15. In a machine of the class specified, the

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combination of a holder for the materiahw ebbing belts secured to therear end of the holder, and a Windlass upon which the webbing belts canbe wound, the Windlass and webbing belts being provided With means fordetachably engaging one another, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 14th day of July,A. D, 1902.

EDWARD G. WHEELER.

Witnesses:

F. C. FLEMING, P. J. SOHEUERMANN.

